M'congo. Anyone know the materials or a technique to make one?

It can also be called a Moucongo or Mouncongo. I would really appreciate if anyone has any info on this. The instrument is calling me. It looks like the "body" of the instrument could be some flexible wood...i guess that doesn't help :-) More important from what I can see is the string or chord that is used...it almost looks like a trip of bamboo...but I am pretty sur that is not it. If you have any info I would really appreciate it.

I don't know for sure how they make them, the Bwiti are notoriously secretive with their special techniques.  I will say that one friend from Japan (he on a member here but I know him from the Ayahuasca forum) is set on making one for himself.  I think he will be successful, I don't think he frequents here.  I thought the correct pronunciation/spelling was Mougongo.  I have visions/dreams of when and if (Jah willing) I can reach Gabon, to have enough funds to buy a heap of Ngombi's and Mougongo's and start selling them.  Just like the Djembe craze had westerners connecting with West Africans, so to the same can happen with Ngombi's and Mougongo's.  I see them as just as powerful and integral as the Djembe and the Kora.  Also on the same lines one way I feel now to gauge if someone is ripe for Iboga or right for Iboga is to play Bwiti music for them and see how they respond to it.  If they can't handle it likely they will not be conducive for a full Iboga initiation.  This is a new lesson I have learned that is just my present subjective thought.

Thanks for the reply man. I am going to keep looking until I find one or do a DIY job. The main thing I am wondering about is the reed/string of the instrument. Seem like the bow could be made out of many things. Thanks for the reply man.

This was posted a while back, but thought I would chime in to answer what I know. A Iboga brother of mine happens to be an amazing M'congo player told me the reed itself is made from bamboo and the arch can be any wood. Hope this helps.